Autism Teacher Physically, Verbally Abused Students: Police

MACOMB TOWNSHIP, MI – An elementary school teacher verbally and physically abused 8- and 9-year-old autistic students, reported the Macomb County Sheriff's Office. On Wednesday, Brittany Stevens, 28, of Mt. Clemens, was charged with second degree child abuse.

The children were not seriously injured and are in good health, reported the Macomb County Sheriff's Office. The abuse was not sexual in nature. Contacted by Patch, a spokeswoman for the sheriff's office declined to say specifically how Stevens abused the children.

Police received a complaint on Jan. 2 that Stevens, a Macomb Intermediate School District teacher, was inappropriately disciplining students. Detectives spoke with several school district employees who reported that they had witnessed these incidents and brought them to the attention of school officials.

Stevens taught out of the Sequoyah Elementary building but was employed by the district as a teacher in the Autism Program, which is housed in several school buildings throughout the county. The school district has notified all of the victims' parents and has been cooperative with the investigation, the sheriff's office reported.

Stevens has been fired by the district, according to a statement from David Rilley, the district's assistant superintendent. "The MISD’s first priority is for the safety and welfare of our students and families," Rilley said.

Stevens was arraigned in the Shelby Township 41-A District Court on Wednesday and given a $10,000 personal bond. She is scheduled to be back in court for a probable cause hearing on March 1.

Photo by the Macomb County Sheriff's Office